Provide specific ways to get additional practice on material (e.g., Linked lists) because teachers often underestimate the amount of practice students need to solidify course concepts. Share Provide specific ways to get additional practice on material (e.g., Linked lists) because teachers often underestimate the amount of practice students need to solidify course concepts. with FacebookShare Provide specific ways to get additional practice on material (e.g., Linked lists) because teachers often underestimate the amount of practice students need to solidify course concepts. with Twitter
Misconception: students forget about language-specific or paradigm-specific material (e.g., new/delete or types) when they switch between languages that don’t use the same concepts. Share Misconception: students forget about language-specific or paradigm-specific material (e.g., new/delete or types) when they switch between languages that don’t use the same concepts. with FacebookShare Misconception: students forget about language-specific or paradigm-specific material (e.g., new/delete or types) when they switch between languages that don’t use the same concepts. with Twitter
Encourage students to write instructions that a 5-year old could follow to give them a technique for problem solving and planning their programs. Share Encourage students to write instructions that a 5-year old could follow to give them a technique for problem solving and planning their programs. with FacebookShare Encourage students to write instructions that a 5-year old could follow to give them a technique for problem solving and planning their programs. with Twitter
Explain that using objects/classes helps students keep their programs organized to motivate the use of object oriented programming, some students need extra help understanding its importance. Share Explain that using objects/classes helps students keep their programs organized to motivate the use of object oriented programming, some students need extra help understanding its importance. with FacebookShare Explain that using objects/classes helps students keep their programs organized to motivate the use of object oriented programming, some students need extra help understanding its importance. with Twitter
Explain that arrays work like a dresser of clothing to help students understand this abstract data structure by relating it to structures they know. Share Explain that arrays work like a dresser of clothing to help students understand this abstract data structure by relating it to structures they know. with FacebookShare Explain that arrays work like a dresser of clothing to help students understand this abstract data structure by relating it to structures they know. with Twitter
Show code without inheritance before showing code that uses inheritance so that students create a tacit understanding of the benefits inheritance provides. Share Show code without inheritance before showing code that uses inheritance so that students create a tacit understanding of the benefits inheritance provides. with FacebookShare Show code without inheritance before showing code that uses inheritance so that students create a tacit understanding of the benefits inheritance provides. with Twitter
Introduce a (sometimes silly) back-story for why students need to write particular methods to motivate them and see how their work might be needed in industry jobs. Share Introduce a (sometimes silly) back-story for why students need to write particular methods to motivate them and see how their work might be needed in industry jobs. with FacebookShare Introduce a (sometimes silly) back-story for why students need to write particular methods to motivate them and see how their work might be needed in industry jobs. with Twitter
Have students compete calculating to the 50th Fibonacci number, one team of humans doing the math versus a team students writing a program to stress the importance of computing for calculations. Share Have students compete calculating to the 50th Fibonacci number, one team of humans doing the math versus a team students writing a program to stress the importance of computing for calculations. with FacebookShare Have students compete calculating to the 50th Fibonacci number, one team of humans doing the math versus a team students writing a program to stress the importance of computing for calculations. with Twitter
Use Shapes, Rectangles, and Squares to teach objects and inheritance in Java, tell students they’re the only ones who can complete the job for extra engagement. Share Use Shapes, Rectangles, and Squares to teach objects and inheritance in Java, tell students they’re the only ones who can complete the job for extra engagement. with FacebookShare Use Shapes, Rectangles, and Squares to teach objects and inheritance in Java, tell students they’re the only ones who can complete the job for extra engagement. with Twitter
Use graphics when possible to keep students engaged because text-only output can discourage students. Share Use graphics when possible to keep students engaged because text-only output can discourage students. with FacebookShare Use graphics when possible to keep students engaged because text-only output can discourage students. with Twitter
Give students a large data file to sort when teaching sorting algorithms to remind students that computers are great at dealing with a large set of data. Share Give students a large data file to sort when teaching sorting algorithms to remind students that computers are great at dealing with a large set of data. with FacebookShare Give students a large data file to sort when teaching sorting algorithms to remind students that computers are great at dealing with a large set of data. with Twitter
Misconception: Students have difficulty using the correct data types in Java because their go-to data type is int most of the time. Share Misconception: Students have difficulty using the correct data types in Java because their go-to data type is int most of the time. with FacebookShare Misconception: Students have difficulty using the correct data types in Java because their go-to data type is int most of the time. with Twitter
Have students learn to make themselves a profile page with pop-ups using JavaScript for an exciting and relatively fast way to get students engaged and programming. Share Have students learn to make themselves a profile page with pop-ups using JavaScript for an exciting and relatively fast way to get students engaged and programming. with FacebookShare Have students learn to make themselves a profile page with pop-ups using JavaScript for an exciting and relatively fast way to get students engaged and programming. with Twitter
Encourage students to write clear, well-commented code by having students switch partners in the middle of a project. Share Encourage students to write clear, well-commented code by having students switch partners in the middle of a project. with FacebookShare Encourage students to write clear, well-commented code by having students switch partners in the middle of a project. with Twitter
Use www.polleverywhere.com as an alternative to iClickers for small groups. It provides a number corresponding to an multiple-choice answer for students to text in using their cellphones. Share Use www.polleverywhere.com as an alternative to iClickers for small groups. It provides a number corresponding to an multiple-choice answer for students to text in using their cellphones. with FacebookShare Use www.polleverywhere.com as an alternative to iClickers for small groups. It provides a number corresponding to an multiple-choice answer for students to text in using their cellphones. with Twitter
Balance students’ interest in immediate gratification (writing code) with preparation for the AP CS exam by having students work on and off the computer during every meeting. Share Balance students’ interest in immediate gratification (writing code) with preparation for the AP CS exam by having students work on and off the computer during every meeting. with FacebookShare Balance students’ interest in immediate gratification (writing code) with preparation for the AP CS exam by having students work on and off the computer during every meeting. with Twitter
Bring in real stories about software, specifically games, sometimes going wrong! It is important for students to learn that development usually takes more than just a day and there is no ultimately correct solution. Share Bring in real stories about software, specifically games, sometimes going wrong! It is important for students to learn that development usually takes more than just a day and there is no ultimately correct solution. with FacebookShare Bring in real stories about software, specifically games, sometimes going wrong! It is important for students to learn that development usually takes more than just a day and there is no ultimately correct solution. with Twitter
Give students a cheat-sheet for how to accomplish particular tasks in Java so that they can create interesting programming from the beginning of a course to keep them engaged. Share Give students a cheat-sheet for how to accomplish particular tasks in Java so that they can create interesting programming from the beginning of a course to keep them engaged. with FacebookShare Give students a cheat-sheet for how to accomplish particular tasks in Java so that they can create interesting programming from the beginning of a course to keep them engaged. with Twitter
Give students a caesar cipher to reveal a picture or message in order to teach how characters can be treated as numbers and to reinforce string manipulation. Share Give students a caesar cipher to reveal a picture or message in order to teach how characters can be treated as numbers and to reinforce string manipulation. with FacebookShare Give students a caesar cipher to reveal a picture or message in order to teach how characters can be treated as numbers and to reinforce string manipulation. with Twitter
Have students sort large signs their classmates hold to better visualize different sorting algorithms. However, be mindful of unsuitable factors to sort by, such as height and weight. Share Have students sort large signs their classmates hold to better visualize different sorting algorithms. However, be mindful of unsuitable factors to sort by, such as height and weight. with FacebookShare Have students sort large signs their classmates hold to better visualize different sorting algorithms. However, be mindful of unsuitable factors to sort by, such as height and weight. with Twitter